Equalizing device for vehicles.



. L C. H. MARTIN.

EQUALIZING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN- IB, I9I2- Patented June 29,- 1915.

CHARLES H. MARTIN, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

EQUALIZIN G DEVICE FOR VEHIGECESL Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J ne 29, 1915 Application filed January 18, 1912. Serial No. 671,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- CHARLES H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have inventeda new and useful Equalizing Device for Vehicles, of" which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles, and the principal object thereof is to provide an efficient equalizing device for preventing one side of the vehicle from being depressed more than the other.

The invention also relates to details thereofandTto a principle of construction ap- 1912, No; 1,018,248, but it is to be understood that it is capable of general'applic'ar tion. Following my above mentioned patent, the drawings show the invention as applied to a vehicle or truck having a body 10, springs 11, front axle 12, and front wheels 13. The front axle 12 also constitutes the rear axle of the front propelling vehicle. The clamps 15, springs 16 and bolts 17 of m'y prior patent'are shown in connection with the body or frame 1815f the propelling vehicle. The latter is shown as provided with a steering wheel 19 and handle 20 and with a motor 21 having a driving shaft 22 and .difierential 23 for driving the chain 24 and sprocket wheel 25, all as shown in my above mentioned patent.

. That-"hangers 27 on which the shaft'22 is located are shown as indirectly connected with adjustable strut rods 28 corresponding with similar strut rods shown in said patent.

.In this case, however, the equalizing ar- 7 parts: 'On the hangers 27 are located rigid rangement is shown as connected with these slightly inclined arms 42 on opposite sides of the body'or frame of the vehicle. Pivotally connected to these arms by horizontal pins 43 area pair of arms 44 projecting forwardly from a rigid equalizing or torsion bar 45. This equalizing bar extends across under the body of the vehicle and is pivoted on substantially upright pivots 46 carried by forks 47 on the upper ends of the two strut rods 28. These strut rods as is the case in my prior patent are pivoted on horizontal axes 49 on the axle 12. The equalizing bar with its forward projections 44 consists of a single rigid piece which is large enough to prevent torsion when the weight is applied to one end.

The same principles are carried out on the front wheel. In this case the frame is 52 with a horizontal front axle 53. On each hangeris an arm 54 corresponding in function with the arms. 42.- These arms are pivotally connected with a pair ofv arms 55 each rigid with respect to a member 5.6

which inturn is keyed to the axle 53 which in this instance itself constitutes the equaL' izer bar.

In both cases when more weight is thrown on one side than the other the tendency'to depress the spring on that side more-than the opposite spring. is resisted by the equalizing device. Conseque'ntly if from any cause the center of gravity is thrown from one side to the other of the vehicle the springs on that side would normally get more load than the opposite springs, and the car would tend to take a position at an angle to the horizontal. This tendency forces down the arm 54 or 42 on that side, and consequently turns the arm 55 or 44. This turning motion is transmitted directly to the other side of the device through the shaft 53in one case and the bar 45 in the other. This turns the corresponding arm 55 or 42 to which it is connected and brings down the other side of the vehicle to an equal degree. In the case of the form shown on the front wheel the-arm 55 turns about the cencase the arms 44 turn about the axis 49, the

result however, being the same in both cases.

It has been found in ractice that in both of these devices the mac ine is kept on a horizontal plane even under the most severe usage, and that this principle is an important factor in thethree wheeled vehicle 18, rendering it still more practical and eificient. 11;v

The simplicity of both forms of theinvention and the general application of the same will be obvious.

two preferred embodiments of the invention, I, am aware that many modifications can be made therein by anyperson skilled in the art without "departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims;

Therefore .I do not wish'to be limited to;

these particularforms or to the particular application thereof shown,-but Y -.en'ds, 'a pair of rigid I What Ido claim-is:-: i

1; In 'a vehicle, the co bination'with a body yieldingly "supported, of means whereside of the body tends to be. de-

mitted equallyto the other side, comprising a movably mounted rigidmember extending across the vehicle 'under thebody and adapted toturn about an axis to transmit the motion and having rigid parallel arms'at its tparallel arms on the body pivoted to the st named arms" by horizontal p'i-vots, and means for connecting the ends-of said rigid member with the rear 7 axle of the vehicle.

2. .In'avehicle', the'combination with a body having arear axle, said body being yieldingly supported from the rearaxle, of

a driving shaft extending across the body,

two arms extending out adjacent to the driving shaft on oppositesides of-the' body, an equalizing bar extending across the body and having two rigid arms, each-horizontally pivoted to one of the first named arms, and a pair of strut rods pivoted to the axle horizontally and.=pivoted to the opposite ends of said equalizer bar on vertical axes.

3'. In a vehicle, the combination withan axle and a body yieldingly connected therewith, of a rigid armon each side of the body,'an'equalizing bar extending from one side of the body to the other, a rigid'arm on each end of the bar, each pivoted horizonoted thereto at its ends on upri pair of strut rods forconnecting the body I with the axle, each strut rod having afork Although I have illustrated and describedprovided with a substantially upright pivot,

said equalizing bar being mounted at its axle and a body yieldingly supported therefrom, of strut rods extending from the axle upwardly toward thewbody, a transverse member .carried byfsaid strut rods and pivmeans whereby the. descent 0 one side of the body will turn said transverse member and depress the other side'ofthe body equally, I 5.- The combinationwithv a vehicle, of-a frame provided with a front steering support and a rear axle and yieldingly connected at the rear with said axle, wheels on said axle, a power shaft on said frame,adjust- 'ablegstrut rods removably connectingsaid tally to one of the arms on body, and a ht axes, and v shaft with said axle, said shaft being rotatable independently of said strutrods, amotor on said frame geared up to thewheels of- Ith'e vehicle through said shaft, and means.

connected with said strut rods for depressing the high side of'thd-fmme-iwhen the 'fmme ds to tilt. a

6. In a vehicle, thecombination'with-a yieldingly supported body, of anequ'alizing bar extending from one side of the body to the other under it, and a pair of strut rods extending upwardly toward the ends of the equalizing bar and each having-a substantially upright-pivot to which the ends of said equalizing bar are pivoted.

' In testimony. whereof I have hereunto set myhand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v l I v CHARLES MARTIN Witnesses: r ALBERT E. 'FAY,

C. Fomms'r Wesson. 

